We have chosen fantasy, action, and drama books that our younger readers have been reading while they wait for the Harry Potter books.
If you are looking for something to read that is like Harry Potter in some way, why not try one of the following books:
A - F
The various
By Steve Augarde
Midge isn't much looking forward to spending her holidays with her uncle, who she doesn't know, on his farm. But Uncle Brian's not so bad and then there's her dramatic introduction to the Various. First she meets Peg - a winged miniature horse. Then she meets other tribes as her destiny becomes clearer.
Midnight magic
By Avi
Peter Pan and Wendy
By J.M. Barrie
The faery's gift
By Tanya Robyn Batt
If you had one wish, what would it be? This is the choice that is given to a poor woodcutter after he rescues a tiny faery-man. His family needs so much, how can he make just one wish? This is a wonderful retelling of a traditional Irish tale from New Zealand's own Tanya Batt.
The goblin wood
By Hilari Bell
Gregor the Overlander
By Suzanne Collins
When Gregor is sucked down into the city below New York he has no idea that he is about to fulfill a prophecy - a prophecy that will change his life forever. A grand adventure and danger wait around every corner as he faces giant rats and cockroaches, and a mysterious people who live in walled cities.
The 13th floor
By Joy Cowley
Todd and Abby discover something very odd about their apartment building – it doesn’t have a 13th floor! The children ask Keith the caretaker who he tells them to wait for the rocking horse moon. What will the children find? And will they make it back to the safety of their own apartments? This is an exciting, action filled book with very cool illustrations.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By Roald Dahl
George's marvellous medicine
By Roald Dahl
Matilda
By Roald Dahl
The afterdark princess
By Annie Dalton
A handful of magic
By Stephen Elboz
The secret of the Spiritkeeper: Knights of the Silver Dragon
By Matt Forbeck
Kellach is probably the worst apprentice in the history of apprentices - he doesn't listen, and he can't keep his hands to himself. Being thrown out of his masters tower was bad enough - but the next morning Kellach finds his master lying on the floor, missing his soul. Now Kellach and his brother Driskoll have to find the only item stolen from the tower a crystal ball with strange markings. Their only help on their quest comes from a street thief called Moyra who has her own troubles to worry about.
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G - L
Coraline
By Neil Gaiman
Elidor
By Alan Garner
The world around the corner
By Maurice Gee
Under the mountain
By Maurice Gee
The secret of platform 13
By Eva Ibbotson
The door between our world and the Enchanted Island is only open for nine days every nine years. Unfortunately in 1983, a nasty woman named Trottle kidnaps their baby prince. For nine long years, the king and queen plan his rescue. Which of the magical creatures of their land should be sent to rescue their lost child? Finally, the team is chosen: Cor, an ancient wizard; Gurkie, a lovable agricultural fairy; Hans, a one-eyed giant; and Odge, a resourceful young hag. Guided by the ghosts who guard our end of the portal, the team sets out to rescue little Raymond Trottle. Ibbotson's lively fantasy is full of fun with its Dahl-like, but less mean-spirited, humor.
The Juniper game
By Sherryl Jordan
Winter of fire
By Sherryl Jordan
Once in a blue moon
By Julie Leibrich
Ella enchanted
By Gail Carson Levine
As a baby, Ella was bestowed the gift of obedience by the foolish fairy Lucinda. This gift turns into a terrible curse for Ella and she decides to hunt Lucinda down to tell her so. This book is great! - It's exciting, funny, magical, clever and really hard to put down.
The two princesses of Bamarre
By Gail Carson Levine
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M - R
The stonekeeper's daughter
By Linda McNabb
Nakita knows that women are forbidden from entering the Keepers Hall - but she can not resist touching one of the stones. That one touch changes Nakita's life as she is forced to flee from her village before the Wizard Koben returns and learns what she has done. But down below in the world beyond her village, Nakita learns that the Wizard Koben is not what she and her father thought - and that by touching the stone she has changed her destiny.
The door in the air, and other stories
By Margaret Mahy
Leaf magic and five other favourites
By Margaret Mahy
Hob and the goblins
By William Mayne
The night of the unicorn
By Jenny Nimmo
REM world
By Rodman Philbrick
The lost castle: The chronicles of Krangor book one
By Michael Pryor
Can you catch a mermaid?
By Jane Ray
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S - Z
The nose from Jupiter
By Richard Scrimger
Finding the fox: Shapeshifter book one
By Ali Sparkes
Dax Jones has a father who is never home and a stepmother who treats him like dirt. That changes when he finds out that he can change into a fox - a scary discovery that sees him rushed away to a boarding school for special children. There are secrets and surprises as Dax tries to learn to control his ability in a strange and potentially dangerous place.
The thief
By Megan Whalen Turner
Dragonkeeper
By Carol Wilkinson
Dealing with dragons
By Patricia C. Wrede
Wizard's hall
By Jane Yolen
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